A man in his 30s driving a black Ford pick-up truck sped through the intersection at Montello and Crescent streets and whipped around three cars.

By Alex Bloom

The Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, MA

By Alex Bloom

Posted Jun. 27, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 27, 2013 at 6:10 PM

By Alex Bloom

Posted Jun. 27, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 27, 2013 at 6:10 PM

BROCKTON

» Social News

A man in his 30s driving a black Ford pick-up truck sped through the intersection at Montello and Crescent streets and whipped around three cars.

He was immediately pulled over, as two of the cars behind him and one in front of him were all undercover police cars, in the midst of a second crime sweep to clean up Brockton’s streets.

Multiple teams of officers fanned out across the city on Wednesday during a sweep resulting in 23 arrests – including a murder suspect who was carrying a gun when he was arrested.

The Brockton Police Department’s second major sweep of the month, which included more than 100 officers, included the arrest of 17-year-old Vladimir Verdieu of Brockton, who had an outstanding murder warrant for his involvement in the stabbing murder of Jonathan Semedo, 18, of Taunton on May 4.

In addition to Verdieu’s arrest, the sweep also brought in heroin and crack cocaine as officers made arrests for outstanding drug dealing charges, traffic violations, shoplifting, and other offenses.

“The security of our citizens continues to be our top priority,” Police Chief Emanuel Gomes said in a statement on Wednesday. “Today’s arrests reflect an ongoing coordinated effort on a federal, state, and local level to making our community safer.”

Working with the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office for “Operation Brockton Neighborhood Surge 2,” Brockton brought in multiple State Police units and had helicopter assistance as they tracked multiple targets.

Police have stepped up patrols after a violent stretch earlier this year, with Brockton experiencing four murders in a matter of weeks in April and May – including the killing of Semedo.

Verdieu, who also faces charges for carrying a gun at the time of his arrest on Boyden St., is the second teen arrested in Semedo’s murder. Eric Claudio, 18, of Brockton, was arraigned in May on charges of murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, armed home invasion and armed robbery in the death.

Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz said the murder arrest and the sweep produced “real results.”

“A violent fugitive, wanted for murder, was taken off the streets of Brockton by one of the joint saturation patrols,” Cruz said. “The city is a safer place because the hard work of these investigators.”

Sgt. Frank Vardaro, of the department’s gang unit, led an Enterprise reporter and a photographer as a team of seven officers made arrests on Wednesday.

“Getting these guys back off the streets is definitely going make a difference in some cases,” Vardaro said.

Officers picked up Kevin Walsh, 20, of 75 Sycamore Ave., on warrants for drug dealing charges and traffic violations. Neighbors sat on their porches while Walsh was taken into custody.

The team also assisted another officers that executed a sting operation, arresting 23-year-old Jason Hodo when the Brockton man attempted to sell heroin in a Crescent Street parking lot.

Officers also looked at a Warren Avenue address for a 39-year-old man, and a Green Street address for a 31-year-old man. At each location, some officers covered the exits while a few went inside to find the targets.

The sweeps, Vardaro said, will also send a message to potential criminals.

“It’ll keep them on their toes,” Vardaro said.

Muliple Brockton Police units, including the gang, narcotics, and K-9 units, joined State Police units, parole officers, and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department. Federal agents from the FBI, DEA, ATF, and HSI also joined the operation.